Wheelchair Accessories - Customizing Your Wheelchair

Wheelchair Accessories - Customizing Your Wheelchair

Wheelchair accessories help customize your wheelchair so that it offers the most effective benefits to meet your needs. Accessories may help make your life easier, more productive, or offer a greater deal of independence. Accessories can be common or customized, depending on where you live and what you need.

Some accessories are fairly common and may include but are not limited to:

Hand rims

Pouches and other holders

Brake locks

Wheels

Wheelchair gloves

Wheelchair cushions

Cup holders

Customized backpacks

Wheelchairs may also be accessorized with anti-tip devices, glow-in-the-dark wheelchair lights, special backing, and even specialized wheelchair wheel rims. There's no limit to the types of accessories that individuals can outfit their wheelchairs with, although some of these accessories may not be covered by typical medical insurance plans, including Medicare.

What Does Medicare Cover?

Basically, Medicare will cover wheelchair accessories and options if the senior can demonstrate legitimate or honest need for the equipment or accessory. Most equipment for wheelchairs and accessories must meet specific criteria by Medicare in order to qualify for reimbursement.

Such equipment should also follow written instructions by a doctor, as well as reasoning behind the need for the equipment, documented in your medical records.

Some of the most common claimed accessory options for wheelchairs include:

Reinforced back and seat upholstery - seniors must demonstrate that they weigh over 200 pounds for such reinforcements to be improved and/or approved.

Accessories that support specific body parts - such needs must demonstrate that the accessory will help improve the function of the specific body part.

Adjustable arm height - even to customize the arm height of wheelchair arms, you'll need to specify your height, weight, and arm length and the time you spend in the wheelchair must be a minimum of 2 hours on a daily basis. In some cases, you may also receive an extension fork hook for headrests, again specifying need.

Some wheelchair options and accessories not considered medically necessary may include:

Crutch and cane holders

Snow tires

Shock absorbers

Crutch, cane or walker holders

Bags, baskets or pouches to carry personal items

Automobile wheelchair racks

Wheelchair ramps

Depending on physical condition, capabilities, or injury of the individual, some approved by Medicare may include :

Headrest extensions

Fully reclining back

Batteries

Solid seats

Reinforced back upholstery

Adjustable arm height

Adjustable leg rests

However, consumers should remember that all accessories should be under a doctor's written order and the supplier must have the order in their files before billing for such purchases. Most of these accessories are limited to use for activities for typical daily lifestyle and living inside the home, and not outside the home.

Seniors are often required to pay 20% co pays after yearly
deductibles have been met for accessories approved by Medicare. Durable
Medical Equipment is covered under Medicare Part B, but how much an
individual will pay depend on where the equipment is purchased and
whether or not the accessory supplier accepts assignments. Generally,
Medicare will pay 80% of approved purchases, with the senior paying the
remaining 20%.

Seniors who also have Medicare Gap or supplemental
insurance policies may end up paying nothing for the wheelchair
accessory, depending on the specifications and limitations of the
supplemental insurance policy.

When choosing a wheelchair
accessory provider, make sure they are Medicare approved. Accessories and suppliers must meet specific qualification standards and
should also have a Medicare supplier number.

If the supplier is not approved or enrolled in Medicare, Medicare may still pay for any type of wheelchair accessory or equipment.

For example, some suppliers may be enrolled in Medicare but choose not to participate.

Seniors may still adapt their wheelchairs as long as the suppliers
agree to accept the Medicare assignment and have agreed not to charge
more than Medicare's allowed amounts. They also agree that they will
collect 20% co-pays for accessories.

Conclusion

When accessorizing your wheelchair, take into consideration the benefits of the accessory as opposed their cost, especially if you have to pay out-of-pocket for such accessories. In many cases, the need for the wheelchair accessory is balanced over the long term by its benefits in greater independence, ease of use, and comfort for wheelchair users.